MLB Draft Preview: New Mexico

In the weeks leading up to the draft, Perfect Game will be providing a detailed overview of each state in the U.S., including the District of Columbia, as well as Canada and Puerto Rico. These overviews will list the state's strengths, weaknesses and the players with the best tools, as well as providing scouting reports on all Group 1 and 2 players as ranked in Perfect Game's state-by-state scouting lists. Please visit this page for all of the links to Perfect Game's 2013 Draft Preview content.

New Mexico State-by-State List
As
one of the handful of top hitting prospects in the 2013 draft class,
University of New Mexico third baseman D.J. Peterson could threaten
to become the highest draft pick in state history. Former big-league
righthander Duane Ward, the ninth pick overall in 1982, presently
holds that distinction.
Peterson
easily ranks as the state’s best projected draft, but two
hard-throwing righthanders, New Mexico JC’s Nic Pivetta and
Peterson’s teammate, Sam Wolff, have created some early-round buzz
on the strength of fastballs in the low- to mid-90s. Beyond that
trio, the talent in New Mexico thins out quickly, though there is a
realistic chance that this year’s draft could wind up producing
double the number of selections as 2012, when seven players overall
were chosen. There is plenty of depth at both New Mexico and New
Mexico JC for that to occur.

STRENGTH:
Draftable talent at University of New Mexico, New Mexico JCWEAKNESS:
High-school talentOVERALL
RATING
(1-to-5 scale): 3
BEST
COLLEGE TEAM:
New MexicoBEST
JUNIOR-COLLEGE TEAM:
New Mexico JCBEST
HIGH SCHOOL TEAM:
Farmington HS
PROSPECT
ON THE RISE: Sam Wolff, rhp, University of New Mexico. Wolff
has gone just 4-5 in two years as a starter for the Lobos, but is
commanding attention in this year’s draft as early as the fourth or
fifth rounds. Not only is he a college senior, a highly-desired
demographic with the new bonus rules that went into place in last
year’s draft, but with a fastball that has touched 99 mph, he’s
also one of the hardest throwers available—a desired trait under
any circumstance.
WILD
CARDS: Mitchell Garver, c, University of New Mexico; Marcus Greene,
c, New Mexico JC; Tanner Rust, c, New Mexico State. With
a distinct shortage of quality college catchers available for the
taking in the early rounds of this year’s draft, all three have
swung the bats at an accelerated clip for the position and could be
snapped up sooner than their overall talent might warrant. Rust
(.406-7-41) leads New Mexico State in batting, Greene (.393-10-46)
tops New Mexico JC in homers and Garver (.372-1-37) has batted in the
cleanup spot for New Mexico all season.
BEST
OUT-OF-STATE PROSPECT, New Mexico Connection:
Sam Wilson, lhp/of, Lamar (Colo.) CC (Attended high school in
Albuquerque/college at University of New Mexico)Top
2014 Prospect: Ryan
Padilla, of, University of New MexicoTop
2015 Prospect:
Taylor Duree, rhp, University of New Mexico
HIGHEST
DRAFT PICKS
Draft
History:
Duane Ward, rhp, Farmington HS (1982, Braves/1st round, 9th pick)2008
Draft: Bobby
LaFromboise, lhp, University of New Mexico (Mariners/8th round)2009
Draft: Max
Walla, of, Albuquerque Academy (Brewers/2nd round)2010
Draft: Rafael
Neda, c, University of New Mexico (Brewers/10th round)2011
Draft: Blake
Swihart, c, Cleveland HS, Rio Rancho (Red Sox/1st round, 26th pick)2012
Draft: Shilo
McCall, of, Piedra Vista HS, Farmington (Giants/9th round)
2011
DRAFT OVERVIEW
College
Players Drafted/Signed:
3/3Junior
College Players Drafted/Signed:
0/0High
School Players Drafted/Signed:
4/1

TOP
PROSPECTS, GROUPS 1 and 2
GROUP ONE
(rounds 1-3)
1. D.J. PETERSON,
3b, University of New Mexico.Drafted
in the 33rd round by the Seattle Mariners in 2010 out of an Arizona high school,
the 6-foot-1, 205-pound Peterson has improved by leaps and bounds in
his three years at New Mexico, and is now one of the elite hitters in
the 2013 draft class. He hit a robust .419-17-78 (33 BB/29 SO) as a
sophomore for the Lobos, led USA Baseball’s college-national team
in homers last summer and has continued to swing the bat at a fast
clip this spring as his .406 average, 20 doubles, 13 homers and 53
RBI (as of late April) are all club-leading figures by wide margins.
Peterson has a smooth, balanced, disciplined swing that transitions
easily to wood and enables him to generate easy raw power. He has
shown no difficulty turning around high-velocity fastballs or
recognizing the best breaking stuff in the college game. He also has
a very mature approach to hitting and has become very adept at
grinding out at-bats in his quest to find a pitch he can drive, or
simply draw a walk. The remainder of Peterson’s tools aren't as
strong, but he’s a better runner underway than he is generally
given credit for. Defensively, he has adequate actions and a playable
arm at third, but his hands and footwork are a little short and he
may not be long for that position, with first base or an outfield
corner likely destinations. Where Peterson might end up in the field
is almost incidental to where he might be drafted as teams know they
are buying an advanced bat with significant home run potential.

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